Last Updated on July 11, 2024 by Asfa Rasheed
Did you know that 14,000 households in the United States of America experience a water damage emergency in their home each day? Basement waterproofing is a great investment if you’re looking for a way to keep your basement safe in the event of flooding or another type of water emergency.
It might seem intimidating to find a basement waterproofing service or basement waterproofing company. It is vital if you want to protect your belongings and the structure of your home. This is vital if you want to experience the basement waterproofing benefits that come with finding basement waterproofing near me.
The good news is that you’re in the perfect place to learn all about basement waterproofing, how it works, and why you should get it for your home’s basement. Keep reading this article to learn more.
Table of Contents
Dig Around
The first step of protecting your basement from water damage is to dig around the exterior perimeter of your home’s structure and basement. This digging needs to go all the way down to where the foundation for the home starts in order to be the most effective.
There are certain products that you should consider getting coated or installed onto the walls of your basement to help provide protection against the elements as well as water that attempts to find its way into your home. There are also great systems and materials that you should put along the side of your home that will help to provide basement waterproofing.
Drainage tiles and crushed gravel are both great options if you’re looking for ways to keep your basement from getting damaged by flooding or water. Perforated pipe is another effective way of protecting your home’s basement. From there, it is up to you if you want gravity to handle the rest or if you’d like to invest in mechanical devices that will help your drainage.
Look for Cracks
The next step is to look for cracks when it comes to the walls of your basement. For the best results, check the interior part of the wall as well as the exterior portion when you’re looking for these cracks. Any cracks that you find are big areas for problems to develop when it comes to water entering your basement and causing damage to your property.
Working with a company like Lux Foundation Services is great because they’ll help you to seal any cracks that you find in your basement’s walls or foundation. This is a huge step in preventing water damage and investing in basement waterproofing near me.
They’ll likely install a coat of hydraulic cement as a strong way to seal off those cracks and prevent further damage from happening to your home. The hydraulic cement is designed to make its way into the cracks and seal them off.
Apply a Sealant
Once you’ve applied the hydraulic cement to your basement’s walls you’ll want to make sure that you seal them. The sealant that you choose to use should be cement-based if you want the best basement waterproofing possible. These cement sealants are easy to apply so this is something that you should be able to take care of without help from a basement waterproofing company.
This sealant should go on the exterior walls of your basement rather than the interior walls. After you apply the sealant to the outer walls of your basement and foundation it will start to harden and close the pores that are in your concrete foundation. If you missed any small cracks in your basement’s walls you won’t need to worry because the sealant will cover them.
Add a Membrane
After you’ve added the sealant to the outdoor walls of your home’s basement you’ll want to take steps to add a membrane. This membrane is what does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to basement waterproofing. The membrane is made from a mix of polyurethane and asphalt.
That concoction gets sprayed onto the exterior walls of the basement as a way to seal the foundation and the basement walls from moisture getting into your home. One of the best options on the market today, if you’re interested in basement waterproofing, is an elastomeric membrane.
An elastomeric membrane is the most resistant to water and will do the best job of keeping unwanted moisture and water out of your home’s basement.
Get a Drainage Mat
A drainage mat is another essential that you should add to your home’s waterproofing. This mat has dimples and creates air gaps between your home’s foundation and the mat itself. This gives the moisture and water a place to travel so that it gets carried away from your home and doesn’t cause water damage.
The best approach is to cut the drainage mat so that it matches the length of the foundation perfectly. This is also a great idea because it reduces the amount of lateral pressure that your home’s foundation is up against.
Build a French Drain
The last step involves investing in and building a French Drain, also known as weeping tile. You’ll want to install a pipe so that the water can weep out of the pipe and away from your home’s foundation. You should also consider getting cleanouts for your French Drain. This will allow you to provide maintenance and keep the drain clear should any debris find its way in.
It is also a great idea to add some gravel to your French Drain. A good rule of thumb is to use around 1.5 feet of gravel for the best results with your home’s French drain.
Take Your Home’s Basement Waterproofing to a New Level
Many people assume that damp basements are a given, and really only suitable as places to put a washer and dryer. Not so! Professional basement waterproofing can turn just about any damp, moldy basement into a dry, comfortable living space
Basement waterproofing is a vital investment if your home has a basement and you’re worried about flooding or water damage at your home. It works by sealing the outside of your home’s foundation and basement as a way to keep water from getting into the concrete and causing cracks. You should also consider investing in a French drain to help with moving the water away from your home.
Leaking pipes, a damaged crawl space, and a number of other situations can severely affect your foundation but the most common cause of foundation problems comes from the soil beneath it. These warning signs may seem like normal home issues, but they should not be ignored. They aren’t do-it-yourself projects, though. You’ll need a foundation repair contractor for this job.
If you notice any signs of water drainage problems, take action now! If you let issues sit for too long, you will end up paying a fortune in restoration costs. The threat of water to your foundation is the number one reason you might want to learn how to drain water away from your foundation.
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Apart from this, if you are interested to know about An In-Depth Guide of Basement Waterproofing For Homeowners then visit our Home Improvement category.
